The Peter & Paul Snowden-trained import Huetor scored a huge boil-over in the 2022 Doomben Cup 2022 results running past the $1.24 pop Zaaki who weakened to finish third at Eagle Farm.

Zaaki (pictured in Sydney) was disappointing late running third to Huetor in the shock 2022 Doomben Cup results at Eagle Farm. Photo: Steve Hart.

All the money on the rescheduled Group 1 $1 million Doomben Cup (2100m) was on last year’s seven-length champion Zaaki, but the odds-on elect only managed to run third after being run down by two exciting imports.

The Annabel Neasham-trained star, backing-up off a successful title defence in the Gold Coast’s Group 2 A.D. Hollindale Stakes (1800m), paraded beautifully and travelled sweetly throughout the run second behind front-runner Polly Grey.

On the home straight, jockey James McDonald got Zaaki into the lead at the 350m and the punters’ pick looked the winner.

Unable to sustain his run however, Zaaki was run down over the final 200m with Huetor ($16) and jockey Kerrin McEvoy coming up the inside to steal the show and improve on a lead-up fourth in the Hollindale.

Also good late charging past the beaten favourite to run second in the shock Doomben Cup quinella was another import, the John O’Shea-trained Maximal ($34) at big odds.

Co-trainer Paul Snowden was quick to confirm plans to race Huetor next up in the Group 1 $1.2 million The Q22 (2200m) back at Eagle Farm on Stradbroke Handicap Day.

“Just call him the winner, that’s all you’ve got to do!” Snowden told Thoroughbred Central after the race when confirming how to pronounce Huetor’s name. 

“It’s culminated this preparation with today and his next run in the Q22.

“He’s been working up to a performance like this today. He takes a little bit of racing to get him there. This preparation is at a very high level whereas last prep he came through his grades and just picked them off one by one.

“He’s won about four races like this. They all leave the fence and he comes up the fence. It was very pretty to watch.

“These city (Sydney) horses coming up here, they don’t know what they are on because they’ve been trudging through the mud the last three months. They are really relishing the conditions today that’s for sure.” 

All-in 2022 The Q22 odds on Huetor to complete the Doomben Cup – The Q22 double that Zaaki achieved last year are into $3.20 through Ladbrokes.com.au and are available in full here.

Zaaki meanwhile remains top of The Q22 betting markets at $2.70, but is looking a doubtful final acceptor off his disappointing Doomben Cup run.

Still, McDonald was far from disappointed in his mount’s performance.

“He’s going really well. He felt really good in the run, he just found that last little bit a bit of a pinch. He’s gone good,” the hoop said after the loss.

2022 Doomben Cup Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.